Summer and May

Chapter Fifty-Two: Jeremy

Bookings, Washington was exactly two hours and thirty-three minutes away, and yet May was sleeping soundly in my passenger seat. She barely even lasted the first hour. Between her shifts at Dockside, nights with me, helping me at Sully's house, and still managing to see Summer in between, she was exhausted. She would never admit it, but she had been burning it at both ends with me for two weeks now. Although Sully's Fisherman House was keeping me just as busy, seeing her sleep peacefully next to me made me feel guilty.

She had been spending so much time with me, and I was loving every minute of it. But each moment I spent with May, one was taken from Summer. The girls had just become friends again, and I worried that asking May to go back home with me would be too much on them. I had been selfish to impulsively ask her to join me while we were on our date the other night, but she was irresistible. 

I had been much more selfish with her than I planned that night.

Memories of us played on a loop in my head. I hid a smirk, switching over to the right-hand lane to find the exit. The sudden shift in speed stirred her awake, her sleepy eyes blinking slowly. Once she realized she'd slept most of the trip, her long lashes batted hurriedly. With her hands folding tightly in her lap, I could tell she was about to apologize.

I wrap my fingers around them instead, enjoying how adorable she looked when she had just woken up. "Sh," I coo. She was making me do shit like that now; coo. And I didn't really care. She was so fucking coo-worthy.

"I'm so sorry," she says anyways, scooting closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder. "The breakfast shift was weirdly busy this morning, and..." she huffed, rubbing her eyes. "Well, I'll be energized for dinner tonight, I promise."

"You're fine, May." I emphasize. She apologized far too much; my friends would eat it up. Kayce would be meeting her tomorrow, along with my other high school buddies that were bound to leave for college in a few short days. I had no doubt they would like May, but they were the sarcastic type. I just hoped they wouldn't try pulling anything on her, seeing how visibly sweet she is.

I veer off the exit, playing it cool while May seemed to study everything before her eyes. The busy streets that turned into narrow roads as we drove further from town, the swaying trees, the friendly faces. I was downright giddy to have her in my hometown, and up until this moment, I thought she felt the same. Instantly I knew she was nervous. I rest my hand on her thigh, and she snaps out of a trance.

When we stroll to a stop at the last red light before we hit my house, I grasp for her pointy chin. She seems to calm at my touch, and it makes me want to kiss her. So I do. Her lips are puffy from her heavy nap, so I kiss her twice.

"They're going to love you." I say. She's not convinced. "They'll love you just like--"

An omnipotent heat rises up my chest and to my face. I had almost said something that could derail this entire weekend.

"Like everyone does." I attempt a recovery, and I watch as she pretends not to notice my slip-up.

"My last interaction with your parents didn't end well. I just want to make a good impression." she says calmly. I was learning that with May, the calmer, quieter, and more collected she seemed, the more I should be worried. There was a storm brewing behind those eyes, and now I wondered if I should've brought her here at all.

There was no going back now, though. My long driveway was just around the corner, and May was already checking her cheeks for signs of sleepiness. She applied a pinkish lipgloss and fluffed her hair until the chocolate waves looked to her liking. May was one of those girls that walked with confidence, yet she didn't have a clue how beautiful she was. But right now, in a summery blouse and shorts that tied in bow at the front, she couldn't have looked better.